A PBS FRONTLINE investigation examines one of the most troubling chapters in the history of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), and how that legacy has shaped efforts to reform the force under federal oversight.

In the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, 31‑year‑old Henry Glover was shot by a rookie NOPD officer and later died while in police custody. His badly burned remains were later found abandoned in a car — an act connected to other officers in a disturbing sequence of events. Five NOPD officers were federally charged with civil‑rights violations in connection with Glover’s death, though most were eventually cleared of all charges.

Glover’s case became emblematic of deeper problems within the department and helped catalyze a Justice Department investigation into widespread police misconduct — including excessive force, unlawful stops and searches, and discriminatory policing. In response, the City of New Orleans, the NOPD and the DOJ agreed to a consent decree in 2012, placing the police department under federal oversight with the aim of mandating reforms and transforming its culture.

Under the consent decree, a federal judge monitored NOPD compliance with reform measures ranging from use‑of‑force policies to investigations of internal misconduct. Recent efforts by the city to end the decree highlight ongoing disagreements about whether reforms have been fully realized. While city officials argue that most standards have been met and that continued oversight strains local resources, the Justice Department points to lingering issues — including unjustified uses of force and training shortfalls — as evidence that reforms are not yet durable.

The legacy of the Henry Glover case is both a grim reminder of what went wrong in New Orleans and a testament to the potential — and the challenges — of imposing meaningful accountability and reform through federal oversight.